Nick Hart, Ph.D. is the CEO of the Washington, D.C.,-based Data Coalition and the President of the Data Foundation. A 2002 graduate of Ray-Pec High School, he helped to craft the milestone Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, which became law in early 2019 strengthening the country’s data management and privacy laws. 

During more than a decade as a civil servant, Dr. Hart worked at the White House Office of Management and Budget under three Presidents, influencing federal policy on social security, disability, anti-poverty, energy, economic development, and criminal justice issues.

Dr. Hart has worked with numerous federal agencies and congressional committees to design realistic data, evaluation, and privacy policies over the past decade.

Dr. Hart was previously Director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Evidence Project. In that capacity, he championed a strategy for implementing the bipartisan recommendations issued by the U.S. Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. He was the Policy and Research Director for that commission, leading development of the commission’s final report for Congress and the President in 2017.

Hart has spoken widely about the need for government capacity to facilitate using data to inform decision-making inside and outside of government. He is an expert in federal policies related to data, evaluation, statistics, science, and privacy. In 2019, he received the FCW Federal 100 award and was elected to the National Academy of Public Administration. He serves on multiple non-profit boards and committees at the local and national levels. 

Dr. Hart is an adjunct professor of program evaluation at George Washington University. Dr. Hart earned a doctorate from George Washington University, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science and Master of Public Affairs degree from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Truman State University. He is a 2002 graduate of Raymore-Peculiar High School, where he was active in Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, and the school newspaper. As an Eagle Scout, he was also actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America and worked for nearly a decade at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. Dr. Hart lives with his wife, Sarah, and son, Calvin, in Washington, D.C.

Jeremy Jones is the owner and hitting instructor at Building Champions Baseball Academy in Overland Park, Kan. Jones established Building Champions in 2003 after years of experience playing baseball at the collegiate and professional level. 

Jones graduated from Ray-Pec High School in 1995. He was drafted three times by Major League Baseball:

• Drafted by the Colorado Rockies (1995) 

• Drafted by the Cleveland Indians (1996)

• Drafted by the Texas Rangers (1998)

He was a catcher at Mesa Community College 1996-1997 and at Arizona State University in 1998. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1998 while at ASU.

He played five seasons (1998 to 2003) in the Texas Rangers organization.

He has been a baseball instructor in the Kansas City area since 1998. As the founder and owner of Building Champions Baseball Academy, Jones has helped more than 500 players receive college scholarships, helped 35 players get drafted, and helped develop six Major League players, including two MLB All-Stars.

He also has been an Associate Scout with the Kansas City Royals organization since 2013.

Mike Medsker and his wife, Angie, are both graduates of Ray-Pec High School. Mike graduated in 1997, and Angie in 1996. They have in Raymore and have two children, Zoey and Nathan. Mike owns a Farmers Insurance Agency in Raymore and is the Recorder of Deeds for Cass County.

Mike's involvement in the community includes former service on the Raymore City Council. He has been a member of all of the local Chambers of Commerce, the Belton-Raymore Rotary Club, and the Optimist Club. He was instrumental in starting the Watch DOGs program in two schools. He coaches softball and baseball and is involved in his church.